Vapor-lamp governor.



No. 759,036. PATENTED MAY 3, 1904. H. F. SMITH.

VAPOR LAMP GOVERNOR;

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27,1903.

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No. 759,036. PATENTED MAY 3, 1904. H. I. SMITH.

VAPOR LAMP GOVERNOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27,1903.

N0 MODEL. I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wit" ammo 'bodying my invention.

NITED STATES Patented May 3, 1904.

ATENT OFFICE.

VAPOR-LAMP GOVERNOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,036, dated May 3, 1904.

Application filed June 27,1903. Serial No. 163,803. (No model.)

To all 'tLf/bO/lt it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARPER F. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vapor-Lamp Governors,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a governor adapted to control the How of liquid and vaporized hydrocarbon or like volatile fluid in a lamp or heating device.

It consists of a governor exterior to the reservoir, through which passes all the hydrocarbon used both, in .its liquid and in its vaporized form.

It also consists of a unitary device for controlling the flow through a governor of both such liquid and such vapor.

It also consists of means for connecting the governor, the reservoir, and the vaporizing portions of the lamp or heater.

It further consists of other novel features of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

In a former application, liled by me April 30, 1903, Serial No. 154C,.7O, I have shown and described a novel vapor-lamp having a governor and feed-regulating device partially inclosed in a reservoir. In a division of that case, application Serial No. 162,310, I have shown, described, and claimed such governor.

In the present application I have shown the governor exterior to the reservoir, although some features of my invention need not be limited to this construction.

Figure 1 represents a partial elevation and partial vertical section of a vapor-lamp em- Fig. 2 represents a similar view of the governing device and its connections on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 represents in vertical section a detail of a connection.

Similar numerals of reference indicate 001" responding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a reservoir of a vapor-lamp. 2 designates a vaporizer or generator in which, after the lamp isin operation, the liquid hydrocarbon or fuel, hereinafter designated as oil, is vaporized. 3 designates a super-heater or regenerator in erated to heat the parts 2 and 3.

which such vapor is superheated and from which it is discharged through the outlet-orifice 4t into a commingling-tube 5, leading to the burners 6. 7 designates a starting device wherein a temporary flame may be gen- As all these parts are shown and fully described in my application above named and as they form per .913 no part of my present invention, I will not here refer to them except as it is necessary to describe the form and operation of the devices hereby sought to be protected.

Suitably su iported at a convenient distance from the reservoir 1 is a governor-casing 8, into which is a fluid-inlet 9, connected by a tube 10 with the reservoir 1 and opening into an inlet-chamber 11, beneath which an outlet-chamber 152, having a fluid-outlet 13, connccted by a tube 14 to the generator 2 and by a second tube 15, in which is a cock 16, to the starterZ. Within the chamber 11 and extending substantially above the inlet 9 is a strainer, shown as a perforate or reticulate tube 17, surrounded by a sleeve 18, which may be of any desired fabric. Between the chambers 11 and 12 is a valve-seat 19, against which rests a valve 20, having an upwardly-extending tubular stem 21 and a dowi'iwardly-extending portion 22, serving as a guide for a thrustspring 23, which bears against the valve 20.

From the upper tube of the generator 2 rises a tube 24., in which is a cock or valve 25, to a dome 2-6 on the reservoir '1, from which a tube 27 leads to a vapor-inlet 28, communicating with a vapor-chainber 29 in the casing 8. A second tube 30, provided with a cock 31, also connects the generator 2 with the cl1amber29. I have shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings a preferred mode of securing in place the ends of the tubes 24: and 30. It consists of an enlarged head 32 at each end of the tube, over which engages a threaded collar 33, by which it may be connected to the nipple. In Fig.

2 I have shown the tube 30 removed and the inlet-nipple 34 closed by a blind eye or stud 35, having a solid head and held in place by a collar 33, similar to thatshown in Fig. 3.

From the vapor-chamber 2S) rises a tubular portion forming a passage 36, above which is a diaphragm-box 37, the upper end of which is closed by a cap 38. A red 39 moves freely in the passage 36 and, as shown, passes through a diaphragm-chamlier 40, to the upper shell of which it is tightly secured. To the lower shell of the chamber 40 is secured a collar il, so that the diaphragm-chamber communicates with the passage 36. A thrustspring 42 extends between the diaphragmcasing 40 and the cap 38. Attached to the lower end of the rod 39 is a fitting 4L3. from which depends a second rod M, the lower threaded end of which slides smoothly on the tubular stem 21 of the valve 20. Lock-nuts 45 are placed on the rod the function of which will hereinafter appear. Pivotally or otherwise attached to the fitting 43 is the stem 46 of a valve 457, which controls the port to the regenerator 3.

The operation is as follows: By momentarily pening cock 16 in tube a small amount of oil is introduced into the starter 7, the valve 20 being normally open. The heat produced by the combustion of this oil vaporizes that contained in the generator 2,the vapor flowing to the vapor-chamber 29 in the governor 8 either through the tube 2 L, dome 26, and tube 27 or directly through the tube to the vapor-chamber 29 of the governor 8. I have provided these two means of communication between the generator and the vaporchamber to insure a free flow of vapor at all times. If one of the tubes 24: or 30 should become obstructed, it may be removed, as for cleaning, and the nipple aperture closed, as above described. I have shown that either or both of these tubes may be provided with cocks or shut-off valves, if desired. The closing of one of these, thus forcing the entire flow through the other tube, will often suffice to clear it. The vapor flowing through either or both of these chambers into the chamber 29 normally flows out through the tube 48 to the regenerator 3, where it is highly superheated and where it is forced through the orifice i. The rushing vapor acts to draw in air into the commingling-tube 5, the mixed air and vapor passing to and being consumed in the burners 6. As the diaphragm-chamber communicates, through the passage 36, with the chambers 11 and 29 of the governor, any excess aboveapredetermined pressure therein will expand the diaphragm and raise the rod 39, fitting as, rod 4A, and valve-stem 4:6. This permits the spring 23 to close the oil-controlling valve 20, whereby the supply to the generator 2 is temporarily cut off. Any'further excess of pressure beyond the point of cutting off the fiow of oil will cause further expansion of the diaphragm-chamber 40 and force valve &7 to its seat. This shuts off the flow of vapor to regenerator 3 and extinguishes flame. By adjusting the lock-nuts L5 on the rod 44 the relative motion of the valves I? and 20 may be accurately determined, while the action of the double device is controllable by varying pressure on the compressionspring 42 through the cap 38. It is evident that a reduction of pressure in the governorSthrough combustion of the vapor at the burners 6 will permit the spring L2 to reopen the oil-inlet valve 20 and the vapor-outlet valve 47 to the desired extent.

It will be seen that the governing device provides a simple, efficient, and unitary means of controlling the entire flow of both oil and vapor, both of which necessarily pass. therethrough. The oil entering at 9 passes through a strainer 17 18, thence past the valve 20 to the outlet 13. The vapor from the generator 2 may either pass upward to the reservoir, thence to the vapor-chamber in the governor, or, conversely, it may pass first to the governor, thence to the reservoir. In any case it can only reach the point of combustion by first passing the valve I7, which acts as a safety-valve to modify or entirely cut off the How when the pressure rises above a predetermined point.

By placing the governor entirely independent and exterior of the reservoir any defect of construction or possible leak may be detected and amended.

By constructing the governor, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, with threaded closures at each end and threaded connections between the chamber 11 and the parts above and below it the whole device may be readily taken apart for cleaning or repairs.

It will be evident that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art which will come within the scope of my invention, and I do not, therefore, desire to be limited in every instance to the exact construction herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a vapor-burning device, a reservoir, a vaporizer, a burner, connections from said reservoir to said generator and from said generator to said burner and a unitary set of means actuated by the pressure of the generated vapor for controlling the flow of fuel to the vaporizer andof vapor to the burner.

2. In a vapor-burning device, a reservoir, a vaporizer, a burner and a governor interposed between said reservoir and said vaporizer and between said vaporizer and said burner, said governor comprising means for controlling the flow of both oil and vapor.

3. In a vapor-burning device, a reservoir, a vaporizer, a burner and a governor interposed between said reservoir and said vaporizer and between said vaporizer and said burner and forming a necessary part of the means of communication between said reservoir and said vaporizer and between said vaporizer and said burner, said governor comprising means for controlling the flow of both oil and vapor.

a. In a vapor-burning device, a reservoir, a

vaporizer, a burner and a governor interposed. between said reservoir and said va )orizer and between said vaporizer and said burner, said governor comprising means for control ling the flow of both oil and vapor and having oil and vapor chambers in fluid connection with each other.

5. In a vapor-burning device, a reservoir, a vaporizer, a burner, a governor interposed between said reservoir and said vaporizer and between said vaporizer and said burner and successively-operated valves in said governor for controlling the flow of the oil and the vapor.

6. In a vapor-burning device, a reservoir, a vaporizer, a burner, a governor interposed between said reservoir and said vaporizer and between said vaporizer and said burner, separate val ves .i n said governor for controlling the flow of oil and of vapor and a diaphragm actuated by 'apor1 )ressure and operatively connected with both said valves.

7. In a vapor-burning device, a reservoir, a vaporizer, a burner, a governor interposed between said reservoir and said vaporizer and between said vaporizer and said burner, separately-adjustable valves in said governor for controlling the flow of oil and of vapor and a diaphragm actuated by 'aporpressure and o 'ieratively connected with both said valves.

8. In a vapor-burning device, a reservoir, a vaporizer, a burner, a governor controlling the flow ot' fluid from said reservoir to said burner and separate means whereby vapor is conducted from said vaporizer, one leading through said governor to said reservoir and the other leading through said reservoir to said governor.

9. In a vapor-burning device, a reservoir, a vaporizer, a burner, a vapor-actuated governor controlling the flow oi fluid from said reservoir to said b urner, means providing separate passages for conducting vapor from said vaporizer, one leading through said governor to said reservoir and the other leading through said reservoir to said governor and means for closing said passages.

10. In a vapor-burning device, a reservoir, a vaporizer, a burner, a vapor-actuated governor controlling the flow of fluid from said reservoir to said burner, a tube leading from said vaporizer to said reservoir, a second tube leading from said vaporizer to said governor and a tube between said reservoir and said governor.

11. In a vapor-burning device, a reservoir, a vaporizer, a burner, a vapor-actuated governor controlling the flow oil fluid from said reservoir to said burner, a removable tube leading from said vaporizer to said reservoir, a second removable tube leading from said vaporizer to said governor and a tube between said reservoir and said governor.

12. In a vapor-burningdevice, a reservoir, a vaporizer, a burner, a unitary set of means trol the flow of oil "from said reservoir to said vaporizer and the flow of vapor from said vaporizer to said burner, said controlling means being operative when the pressure of the generated vapor exceeds a predetermined limit.

13. In a vapordnirning device, a reservoir, a burner, a governor controlling the How of fluid from said reservoir to said burner, a vaporizer, means whereby oil is conducted from said reservoir to said governor and from said governor to said vaporizer, means providing a plurality oi. vapor-passages from said vaporizer to said governor and said reservoir and a vapor-passage "from said governor to said burner.

14. In a vapor-burning device, a reservoir, a burner, a governor controlling the flow ot' fluid from said reservoir to said lnirner, a vaporizer, a simerheater, means providing an oilpassage from said reservoir to said governor and from said governor to said vaporizer, means providing a plurality of vapor-passages from said vaporizer to said governor and said reservoir and means providing a varmr-passage from said governor to said super-heater.

15. In a vapor-burning device, a gomrnor comprising separate oil and vapor controlling valves and means operative to positively move one of said valves :in both directions and the other of said valves in one direction.

16. .In a va )or-burning device, a governor comprising separate oil and vapor controlling valves and pressure-controlled means operative to positively move one of said valves in,

both directions and the other of said valves in one direction.

17. In a vapor-burning device, a va1 )orac tuated governor comprising separate oil and vapor controlling valves, a diaphragm operative to positively move one 01? said valves in both directions and the other of said valves in one direction and means for regulating the movement oi said diaphragm.

18. In a vapordnirning device, a reservoir, a burner, a wiper-actuated governor controlling the flow of fluid'from said reservoir to said burner, a vaporizer, a tube connecting the upper portions of said reservoir and said governor and vapor conducting tubes leading from said vaporizer, one to said governor, the other to said reservoir.

19. In a vapor-lmrning device, a governm' adapted to control the flow of both oil and vapor passing therethrough and comprising a valve for checking the flow of oil, a valve for checking the flow of vapor and vapor-actuated means for positively moving said last-named valve to open and close the same and for moving said lirst-named valve to open the same.

20. In a vapor-burning device, a governor adapted to control the flow of both oil and vapor passing therethrough and comprising a s ning-actuated valve for checking the flow of oil, a valve for checking the flow of vapor and exterior of said reservoir and adapted to coni a diaphragm operative to close said vapor- IIO checking valve and to release said spring-actuated valve.

21. In a vapor-burning device, a reservoir, avaporizer and agovernor controlled by fluidpressure generated in said vaporizer and operative by an increase of such pressure to cut off the flow of hydrocarbon to said vaporizer and by a further increase of such pressure to extinguish the flame.

22. In a vapor-burning device, areservoir, a vaporizer and a governor controlled by fluidpressure and operative by an increase of such pressure to cut off the flow of liquid hydrocarbon to said vaporizer and by a further increase of such pressure to reduce the flow of vaporized hydrocarbon to the burner.

23. In a vapor-burning device, a reservoir, a burner, a vaporizer located in the heat zone of said burner, a governor interposed between said vaporizer and said burner and automatically operated by the pressure generated in said vaporizer to control the flow of vapor to said burner, and means located in the heat zone of said burner interposed between said governor and said burner for superheating such vapor.

24. In a vapor-burning device, a reservoir,

a burner, a vaporizer located in theheat zone of said burner, a governor interposed between said vaporizer and said burner, comprising a valve controlling the flow of vapor to said burner and a diaphragm actuated by pressure of vapor generated in said vaporizer and operative to close such valve thereby extinguishing the flame, and means located in the heat zone of said burner and interposed between said governor and said burner for superheating such vapor.

25. In a vapor-burning device, a reservoir, a governor, a vapoizer and a super-heater, pipes leading from said reservoir to said governor, thence to said vaporizer, thence to said governor and thence to said super-heater, a

. valve in said governor controlling the flow of hydrocarbon from said reservoir to said vaporizer and a second valve controlling the flow from said vaporizer to said superheater, and pressure-operated means in said governor for closing said valves in the order named.

HARPER F. SMITH.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. IVIEDERSHEIM, Gno. L. Coornn. 

